LONG ago in a little kingdom of northern India, there lived a king who had a son whom he greatly loved. And because his son was dear to his heart, he provided him with everything that mind could imagine and a king's power obtain, to make him happy and pleased with his life. He gave him a fine palace to live in, magnificent gardens in which to walk and take the air, splendid horses and elephants to ride, lovely musicians to make music for him as often as he should wish for such amusement and, finally, when the Prince came of age, his father found for him a beautiful and devoted wife who, in course of time, bore to him a charming little son.